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Friday, July 25, 2008   08:04 GMT    
Latest News
UAE: US-Iran Detente Viewed With Caution
By Meena Janardhan
DUBAI, Jul 25 (IPS) - The turnaround in Washington-Tehran ties is being viewed with relief on the one hand and anxiety and anger on the other by various quarters within the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) bloc.
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POLITICS-MALAYSIA: Malay-Muslim Call Shakes Opposition Unity
By Baradan Kuppusamy
KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 25 (IPS) - A key constituent of the opposition People’s Alliance coalition led by Anwar Ibrahim has opened secret talks with the ruling United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) party of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi in a move that threatens the stability of the fragile five-month-old opposition alliance.
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BURMA: UN Missions Draw Derision
By Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK, Jul 25 (IPS) - In their hour of despair, Burma’s beleaguered people continue to find comfort in humour. New jokes reflect new frustrations. The latest target is Ibrahim Gambari, United Nations special envoy for Burma.
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POLITICS-US: Latino Voters Heavily Favour Obama
By Jim Lobe
WASHINGTON, Jul 24 (IPS) - Democratic Sen. Barack Obama is preferred by a nearly a three-to-one margin over his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain, among Latinos who are registered to vote, according to a major new poll released Thursday by the Pew Hispanic Centre.
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FINANCE: U.S. Accuses Trading Firm of Manipulating Oil Market
By Abid Aslam
WASHINGTON, Jul 24 (IPS) - U.S. regulators are pressing charges against a global trading firm they accuse of manipulating the oil market, in a move that dovetails with heightened political agitation over rising energy and food prices.
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HEALTH-SWAZILAND: AIDS Creating a Society in Distress
By James Hall
MANZINI, Jul 24 (IPS) - In a narrow and still winter-brown valley, little more than a crevice between rocky mountains, Gogo Ndlovu looks after her five young orphaned grandchildren.
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POLITICS-BOLIVIA: It’s All about the Gas Revenues
By Franz Chávez
LA PAZ, Jul 24 (IPS) - Revenues from Bolivia’s sales of natural gas, which have ballooned in the last few years, are now at the centre of the tense political polarisation threatening to tear the country apart and are a main motivation in the opposition’s attempt to undermine the leftwing government of Evo Morales.
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FILM: Boys of Mass Destruction
By Katie Vandever
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 24 (IPS) - In a twist of realism, a new feature film, "Johnny Mad Dog", uses a cast of actual ex-child soldiers from Liberia to portray the violent lives of youth forced to participate in armed conflict.
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LEBANON: Bodies Swap Brings Uneasy Triumph
By Mona Alami
BEIRUT, Jul 24 (IPS) - The image of 199 coffins covered with Lebanese, Palestinian and Hezbollah flags neatly aligned in a southern Beirut compound was broadcast last week on all national Lebanese TV stations. On Tuesday this week, 144 of these remains were transferred to Syria, their final place of rest. Such images have stirred varying emotions among the Lebanese population.
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POLITICS: Bush, U.S. Military Pressure Iraqis on Withdrawal
Analysis by Gareth Porter*
WASHINGTON, Jul 24 (IPS) - Instead of moving toward accommodating the demand of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a timetable for U.S. military withdrawal, the George W. Bush administration and the U.S. military leadership are continuing to pressure their erstwhile client regime to bow to the U.S. demand for a long-term military presence in the country.
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Global Affairs
FINANCE: U.S. Accuses Trading Firm of Manipulating Oil Market
By Abid Aslam
WASHINGTON - U.S. regulators are pressing charges against a global trading firm they accuse of manipulating the oil market, in a move that dovetails with heightened political agitation over rising energy and food prices.
MORE >>
 		 
FILM: Boys of Mass Destruction
By Katie Vandever
UNITED NATIONS - In a twist of realism, a new feature film, "Johnny Mad Dog", uses a cast of actual ex-child soldiers from Liberia to portray the violent lives of youth forced to participate in armed conflict.
MORE >>
 		 
POLITICS: Western Interests Dictate Security Council Agenda
Analysis by Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS - The continued political deadlock over a rash of ongoing crises -- including Iran, Myanmar (Burma), Palestine, Kosovo, Zimbabwe and Sudan -- is threatening to paralyse one of the world's most powerful political bodies, harking back to the days of the Cold War when it was turned into a battleground for U.S.-Soviet confrontation.
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DEATH PENALTY: Final Quarter Yet To Be Convinced
By Petar Hadji-Ristic
ROME - Nine countries have taken major steps towards jettisoning the death penalty over the past 18 months, leaving just a quarter of nations left to abolish the practice, according to the 2008 report from the group Hands off Cain.
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TRADE: Industrial Markets in Dispute
By Gustavo Capdevila
GENEVA - The rivalry between rich and poor countries over the international markets for industrial goods has taken root in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), where it represents one of the biggest obstacles to the success of the Doha Round of multilateral trade talks.
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MDGs
AFRICA: Link Between Crop Failure and Climate Change Often Missed
By Miriam Mannak
CAPE TOWN - Climate change has a profound effect on food security in Africa, as increasing temperatures and shifting rain patterns reduce access to food across the continent.
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AFGHANISTAN: Taliban Encroach On Karzai's Turf
By Anand Gopal
KABUL - Dozens of civilians were killed over the weekend in Afghanistan, the latest in the trend of spiralling violence that has engulfed the embattled nation. The civilian casualties, Taliban attacks and troop casualty numbers are putting increasing strain on the Western-led coalition, leading some to speculate that the war is unwinnable.
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DEVELOPMENT: Gender Focus Urged for U.S. Aid
By Alison Raphael
WASHINGTON - Women's groups weighed in Tuesday on the growing debate over new goals and strategies for U.S. foreign aid, arguing that to work effectively, foreign aid should target women.
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BRAZIL: Livelihoods Vs. Environment - Afro-Descendants Caught in the Middle
By Mario Osava
REGISTRO, Brazil - "They won’t let us plant our crops," says Leonila Costa Pontes, referring to the laws that require an environmental permit for her to cultivate her small plot of land.
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ENERGY: Solar Thermal Power Coming to a Boil
Analysis by Jonathan G. Dorn*
WASHINGTON - After emerging in 2006 from 15 years of hibernation, the solar thermal power industry experienced a surge in 2007, with 100 megawatts of new capacity coming online worldwide.
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Environment
MEXICO: Putting a Price Tag on Destruction of Mangroves
By Emilio Godoy
MEXICO CITY - The destruction of the rich mangroves along the coasts of northwestern Mexico has had a heavy impact on fisheries in that area, according to a new study that attempts to put a price tag on these fragile ecosystems.
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AFRICA: Link Between Crop Failure and Climate Change Often Missed
By Miriam Mannak
CAPE TOWN - Climate change has a profound effect on food security in Africa, as increasing temperatures and shifting rain patterns reduce access to food across the continent.
MORE >>
 		 
BRAZIL: Livelihoods Vs. Environment - Afro-Descendants Caught in the Middle
By Mario Osava
REGISTRO, Brazil - "They won’t let us plant our crops," says Leonila Costa Pontes, referring to the laws that require an environmental permit for her to cultivate her small plot of land.
MORE >>
 		 
ENERGY: Solar Thermal Power Coming to a Boil
Analysis by Jonathan G. Dorn*
WASHINGTON - After emerging in 2006 from 15 years of hibernation, the solar thermal power industry experienced a surge in 2007, with 100 megawatts of new capacity coming online worldwide.
MORE >>
 		 
Q&A: 'Guam Matters, Not Guamanian Rights'
Interview With Julian Aguon, Chamoru Activist
MELBOURNE - In this second of a two-part interview, IPS spoke with Julian Aguon -- whose homeland of Guam is soon to receive thousands more U.S. troops -- regarding the island’s economic problems, why Guam matters to Washington and the value of solidarity links between activists who are divided by oceans, yet united in a cause.
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Human Rights
BURMA: UN Missions Draw Derision
By Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK - In their hour of despair, Burma’s beleaguered people continue to find comfort in humour. New jokes reflect new frustrations. The latest target is Ibrahim Gambari, United Nations special envoy for Burma.
MORE >>
 		 
HEALTH-SWAZILAND: AIDS Creating a Society in Distress
By James Hall
MANZINI - In a narrow and still winter-brown valley, little more than a crevice between rocky mountains, Gogo Ndlovu looks after her five young orphaned grandchildren.
MORE >>
 		 
FILM: Boys of Mass Destruction
By Katie Vandever
UNITED NATIONS - In a twist of realism, a new feature film, "Johnny Mad Dog", uses a cast of actual ex-child soldiers from Liberia to portray the violent lives of youth forced to participate in armed conflict.
MORE >>
 		 
LEBANON: Bodies Swap Brings Uneasy Triumph
By Mona Alami
BEIRUT - The image of 199 coffins covered with Lebanese, Palestinian and Hezbollah flags neatly aligned in a southern Beirut compound was broadcast last week on all national Lebanese TV stations. On Tuesday this week, 144 of these remains were transferred to Syria, their final place of rest. Such images have stirred varying emotions among the Lebanese population.
MORE >>
 		 
POLITICS: Western Interests Dictate Security Council Agenda
Analysis by Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS - The continued political deadlock over a rash of ongoing crises -- including Iran, Myanmar (Burma), Palestine, Kosovo, Zimbabwe and Sudan -- is threatening to paralyse one of the world's most powerful political bodies, harking back to the days of the Cold War when it was turned into a battleground for U.S.-Soviet confrontation.
MORE >>
 		 
Health
POPULATION-PHILIPPINES: Catholic Church Damns The Pill
By Stella Gonzales
MANILA - As World Population Day was being marked on Jul. 11, Tess and Andy were attending a family planning seminar as a requirement for their forthcoming wedding. It turned out to be window into one of the major problems besetting the Philippine population programme.
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HEALTH-LEBANON: Cancer On the Rise
By Mona Alami
BEIRUT - Reports of a rising incidence of cancer now worry many families across Lebanon. Over the past 40 years, reported cases of cancer have risen from 3,000 to about 8,000 a year.
MORE >>
 		 
EGYPT: Locals Step Up Fight Against Factory
By Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani
CAIRO - Controversy continues to rise over the fate of a Canadian fertiliser plant currently under construction in Egypt's coastal province Damietta. Residents fear it could adversely affect the environment.
MORE >>
 		 
HEALTH-MEXICO: Internet Can Be a Dangerous Pharmacy
By Diego Cevallos*
MEXICO CITY - Mexico is drafting measures to regulate the sales of pharmaceuticals over the Internet: reforms have been announced for laws dating back to the 1980s, when the world wide web did not yet exist, and new monitoring systems are in the works to track the who, how and what of online sales.
MORE >>
 		 
Q&A: "Reproductive Rights Can Overcome the Conservative Wave"
Interview with Carmen Barroso, Int'l Planned Parenthood Federation*
RIO DE JANEIRO - This year marks four decades of international recognition of people's right to decide how many children they want to have and when, and for that reason there is a great deal to celebrate, says Brazilian expert Carmen Barroso, of the International Planned Parenthood Federation.
MORE >>
 		 
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